I’ve never had much patience, so I slowly pull down the menu and hope he’ll be gone by the time I’m done. But I’ve never been more wrong in my life. Those deep brown eyes are looking right down at me. Not my friends. Not the other people in the restaurant who are all looking our way, but at me.
I noticed his tattoos last night, but I can study them more closely in daylight. They’re a mess of things that I can’t makeout. They cover both arms, but his neck and hands are clear of markings.
His fair skin is a direct contrast to his dark eyes and hair, which just kiss his shoulders. Even in his intense fury, there’s no denying he has the looks of an angry, dark angel. What I don’t understand is why his anger is directed at me.
If anything, I was a victim of a predator at this man’s club, so why the hell is he glaring down at me like I did something wrong? He should be mad at himself for scaring the shit out of us last night the way he did. He should ask himself why his club allowed a predator inside to prey on innocent women.
I widen my eyes and arch an eyebrow to show my displeasure. And he growls at me. It’s a low, rumbling sound, but I hear it.
“Ah,” I whisper before I raise my menu back up, blocking myself from his frightful stare. The heavy footsteps finally resume, and I exhale in relief. I peek from behind my menu, and he’s no longer glaring at me.
“He’s gone,” I whisper.
My friends put down their menus and exhale, but Cori looks past me, still appearing like a deer in headlights. I turn around, and my eyes lock with his again.
“Oh, fuck,” I whisper.
“There’s a screen behind you,” Selene says. “Pull it down so this demon can leave us alone.”
Having no clue what she’s talking about, I start to fumble with the space behind me. I’m no longer looking at him, but I know those eyes are burning a hole in my head. I find a lever and pull it up, finally shielding us from what I’m sure is the devil himself.
“What the fuck?” I whisper.
“I rebuke him in the name of Jesus,” Selene says.
Cori puts a finger to her lips and points behind me. It’s on the tip of my tongue to talk loudly about the jerk behind us, but Iswallow my words. I’m no fool. It’s one thing to be sassy to an asshole. It’s another thing to talk shit to a criminal.
I just got out of trouble in Boston; I don’t need to create more. So I shut up, deciding to wait until we’re alone to bash that thug with my words.
A server brings me another cappuccino. I didn’t ask for it, but I take it and hope they don’t charge me for a second one. Ms. Hazel has always been good to me, but she’s all about getting her money. She doesn’t give anything away.
Regardless, I sip it, and it’s better than the first one. Our food is brought out next, and I dive into my French toast, eggs, and bacon. We don’t speak anymore. I think my tablemates are put off by the man behind us. For one so big, I don’t hear a peep out of him, but I feel his presence.
When we’re halfway through devouring our food, the server returns with fresh fruit and a new round of drinks. I mentally calculate the cost and realize I can’t afford it.
“We didn’t order that,” I tell the server. I want it, but it’s not within my budget.
The server puts it on the table anyway.
“Ms. Hazel said to bring it to you.”
I look from Cori to Selene. This is unusual for Ms. Hazel to do. Cori shrugs, sticks her fork in her bowl, and eats a strawberry.
I grab mine and eat it. Ms. Hazel walks past our table with a smile but doesn’t say a word. She stands at the booth behind us, and I hold my breath.
“I’ll bring your usual. And I got your message about the other thing.”
I wait to hear more about that other thing, but he doesn’t reply.
We finish our food, and there’s not a scrap left on my plate or my fruit bowl.
“Can we have the check, please?” I ask the server once she returns to our table. I’m suddenly eager to get out of here and away from him.
The server leaves, and Ms. Hazel arrives.
“You girls have a good day,” she says with a warm smile. “Your bill’s been taken care of.”
I’m shocked, but I can’t accept it, although I don’t understand Ms. Hazel’s sudden generosity. She’s barely kept this place at a profit. I know she’s almost gone under twice, the last time when she was going through her second divorce.
